November 8th, 2010 by admin

Facebook, the world’s most popular social networking website, may be the most popular but there can be some dangers associated with using it.

Let us read about some dos and don’ts of being a part of the social networking giant, Facebook.

From in.news.yahoo.com:

“Posting certain photos or information on the site puts you at risk of being fired, a victim of crime, or even worse. There are computer programmes called ‘data mining’ that sweep Facebook to collect dates of birth, phone numbers, addresses etc. That’s gold dust to criminals,” the Sun quoted Whitelegg, an IT security expert, as saying.

Here are the 10 things you should never post on Facebook and why.

Date and place of birth- This places you at massive risk of identity theft. They are the most commonly used security questions on password resetting sites.

Mother’s maiden name-A lot of sites use your mother’s maiden name to authenticate who you are. They also commonly use the school you went to as a security question.

Address- It again puts you at risk from identity fraud, but also from burglars and stalkers.

Holidays-If you post an update on Facebook saying: “Can’t wait till next Wednesday – two weeks in Miami yeh!” you are basically saying: “Come and rob me.”

Short trips from home-Again, this can put you at risk of burglary and stalking.

In short, it is good to be on Facebook but only by disclosing a semi-complete public profile and using only those pieces of information that is safe for your personal, financial, and professional life.

Tags: Facebook, identity theft, password resetting sites, social networking

January 8th, 2010 by admin

This YouTube video provides some tips for safe shopping, both at the local mall and online on the internet. Protect yourself from theft, assault, and identity theft.

Tags: identity theft, safe shopping, YouTube video

August 14th, 2009 by admin

In today’s busy world where we do not have enough time to spend even with our family and loved ones, even the thought of spending several hours shopping for basic needs and luxury products irritates us. This is when most of us go online and shop. If you are still visiting your traditional grocery stores for that reason, it is high time that you switch over to online shopping for greater benefits and to save valuable time and money.

However, there are some things that you need to know before placing your first order on the web.

It is important for you to realize that complete caution and access to knowledge are basic requisites of online shopping. Do not place your orders by sitting in the cyber cafes, as many evil-minded people can make fraudulent usage of your important details. Before making the payment, have a word (verbal or email) with the seller to confirm his authenticity. Read reviews about the business you have selected to understand its reliability. Always try to pay by a credit card or an online payment service. This is because if you are using these payment modes, you are protected by law and your liability is limited to just $50 in case a fraud happens to you. Payment options such as debit card or wire transfer are not good as it may be difficult, if not impossible, to avoid a fraud or theft of critical account information. Make sure the website supports encryption and its URL begins with “https://“-and not just “http://“.

Always take some time to read the terms and conditions of a purchase along with privacy and return policies before you order anything. In addition to that, make sure that you have up-to-date security software installed on your PC to avoid the risk of contracting a virus or malware or identity theft. Once you placed the order and receive the same, immediately inspect it as soon as it arrives and if there is any problem, immediately notify the seller. Do not forget to check your credit card and bank statements on a regular basis to ensure that you were charged the right amount and that no extras were added to your order bill. In case of a fraudulent transaction, immediately inform the seller, law authorities, and your banker.

By observing these basic do’s and don’ts of online shopping, you can stay comfortable and secure in the best possible way.

Tags: basic requisites of online shopping, do’s and don’ts of online shopping, identity theft, online and shop, Online Shopping, privacy and return policies

August 12th, 2009 by admin

Online Shopping, which is also known as e-shopping or Internet Shopping, is now gaining enough momentum to come out as one of the most feasible, easy, and time-saving methods of shopping for products and services.

In a recently concluded survey on online shopping trends, it was found out that 66 percent of online Americans say that they have purchased a product online. In addition to that, approximately 76 percent offline customers say that they plan to shop online in one month’s time. This clearly shows that shopping online is become one of the latest trends and a business that does not have a web presence is bound to lose many opportunities without even realizing them.

Shopping on the web has many benefits in the offerings. An online shopper saves money on gasoline and avoids battling crowds, fighting for parking spaces, and standing in long checkout lines. Moreover, he can find every product or service of his choice on the web with relevant information to facilitate an informed decision. One of the greatest benefits of online shopping is that it can be done by sitting at the comfort and privacy of one’s own home. Furthermore, if a customer does not like quality of the product or service purchased by him from the web, there is usually a return policy that allows him to return it and get back his payment.

However, a potential online shopper is always advised to check authenticity of the seller before making the final payment. It is essential to check out that website of the seller has encryption facility so that critical information is not stolen and an identity theft does not occur. Moreover, it is always recommended to pay by a credit and not a debit card as the liability is limited to $50, in case of a fraudulent transaction.

With web security on your side, online shopping can be really easy and satisfying. However, a little bit of caution and common sense are still required to reap the optimum benefits of online shopping.

Tags: benefits of online shopping, e-shopping, identity theft, Internet Shopping, Online Shopping, product online, shop online, Shopping, Shopping on the web, shopping online, web presence